[Allez]

Got myself a (weak) battery operated Kobalt pressure washer at a great price. It's supposed to be rated at 600 psi. Never used anything but a hose and bucket to wash a car. Any particular do's or don'ts?

[Joshinator99]

Make sure you’re using a wide fan spray nozzle designed for delicate surfaces… no need to etch your name into the paint lol…

[Allez]

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

Make sure you’re using a wide fan spray nozzle designed for delicate surfaces… no need to etch your name into the paint lol…

Looks it there's an option of 0, 15, 25, and 40 degrees, so I guess I'll stay with 25 or 40.

[arpad_m]

I typically use the 40-degree (white) nozzle for pre-rinsing, the 25-degree (green) one for washing off the dirt the foam and agitation releases from the Camaro, and the 15-degree (yellow) one on the truck for the same purpose when it's very dirty.

One more thing to be careful with is not going too close to the paint with the nozzle, make sure it's at least 1.5-2 feet away from the car when spraying. Actually, I have one more piece of advice, don't put your hand into the spray even accidentally for half a second (ask me how I know :/).

On a final note, not to be sour sally, but 600 psi nominal is nothing, it's only slightly better than a garden hose. Your paint probably won't get damaged any way you use this washer, but I seriously doubt you'll get any action from a foaming bottle either, they typically require a lot more pressure for those beautiful thick suds you see on youtube. My Stanley electric is rated at 2150 psi and it's nowhere near as strong as a typical gas washer, but it's already good enough for proper foaming and washing, and works pretty well in general.

[Allez]

Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely aware 600psi is not much, so at this point not expecting any foaming. Depending on how things go I may move up to something more substantial.

[KirkH]

You can tear up the rubber around the windows very easily with a pressure washer. I only use pressure on wheels and for a foam gun.

[joekd]

You can still get a decent foam using a foam cannon and good car wash soap

I have an electric one and also a battery one (that I bought mainly for cleaning my vinyl fence) one day I tried my foam cannon with chemical guys soap in it and it still created a good amount of foam

[AZIROC]

If it hasn't been said yet, when you use the spray nozzle, swap out the orifice to a 1.1 vs the factory 1.2-1.25. That will help a good amount.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by AZIROC

If it hasn't been said yet, when you use the spray nozzle, swap out the orifice to a 1.1 vs the factory 1.2-1.25. That will help a good amount.

That's a very good point, it helps a lot with the foamer. My pressure washer has its own foam attachment, but it was useless, so I purchased this instead. It came with two orifices, swapped out the preinstalled one for the 1.1 mm unit, and it's been working perfectly ever since.

[AZIROC]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

That's a very good point, it helps a lot with the foamer. My pressure washer has its own foam attachment, but it was useless, so I purchased this instead. It came with two orifices, swapped out the preinstalled one for the 1.1 mm unit, and it's been working perfectly ever since.

Thats the same one I have. Mine didn't come with a 1.1 so I put 1 in and 1 of these filters.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09ML...b_b_prod_image

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by AZIROC

Thats the same one I have. Mine didn't come with a 1.1 so I put 1 in and 1 of these filters.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09ML...b_b_prod_image

Strange, it should've come with an extra 1.1, see pic below. Thanks a lot for the tip about the filters

[AZIROC]

When I bought it I didn't see anything about a 1.1. I also didn't know about the 1.1 at the time either. When I got it there was no extra orifice and I purchased the 1.1. That alone was a noticeable difference. I just recently learned the filter also helps with the foam. Not as a huge gain as the 1.1 but it was a noticeable difference. From what I have seen, more higher end foam cannons come with that style / quality filter where the more affordable ones don't. I just couldn't justify the $100+ for a foam cannon when they are all the same construction.

[Allez]

Thanks for all of the info. I had no idea what a 1.1 was.

[AZIROC]

Originally Posted by Allez

Thanks for all of the info. I had no idea what a 1.1 was.

I've also learned that the right amount of soap and water is important. for me, I only fill the container to about 2/3s full and add 2 oz soap. But my car is also ceramic coated, and its not a daily, so you may want to or use more. As well as mixing the 2 together before using it. First water then soap and don't shake it up, more of a swirl around. That and turn the top knob all the way over. i wanna say its positive.. but which ever 1 is all foam and not all water.